Federal Direct Stafford Loans are the primary source of student loans available and offered to each student who completes a FAFSA. Stafford loans come in two types: subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized loans are need-based and available to students with demonstrated financial need. Unsubsidized loans are available to students without demonstrated need, to students whose parents are denied a PLUS loan or as a $2,000 supplement to those who receive the maximum amount of subsidized/unsubsidized loans for their respective grade levels.

Loan limits are as follows:

Grade level

Subsidized

Unsubsidized Supplement

Unsubsidized (Denied a PLUS)

Freshman

$3,500

$2000

$4,000

Sophomore

$4,500

$2,000

$4,000

Junior/Senior

$5,500

$2,000

$5,000

Interest rates and fees for 2014/15 are as follows:

Program

Interest Rate

Fees

Subsidized Stafford Loan

4.66%

1.072%

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

4.66%

1.072%

Parent PLUS Loan

7.21%

4.288%

*Note: All student and parent loans will be originated through the federal government's Federal Direct Loan program.

All first-time borrowers are required to complete an Entrance Interview and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for their student loans unless the U.S. Department of Education indicates "MPN already on file" at the time you are completing the process. The application and entrance interview process will take approximately 20–30 minutes to complete and students can “e-sign” their application without ever touching paper! All online loan proceeds will be electronically transferred to your student account at Quinnipiac University, so there are no checks to sign.